Tightrope [Black Ops Brotherhood 6] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Bella Juarez

  “Let’s at least go inside the house,” she said, kissing him.

  “Where’s your sense of adventure? No one will see you but me and Schotzie,” he said, grabbing her ass.

  “It’s getting cold out here. I want to go in.” She pushed against his chest.

  “All right, babe, you go in, and I’ll turn on the water and electricity and be right behind you.”

  As she stood, he gripped her thigh and pulled her close. He got to his knees and kissed her belly through her thin T-shirt.

  “Watch out for snakes,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair.

  When he saw she’d gone inside the house, he pulled a flashlight out of his truck. He walked around back and flipped a few switches for the electricity to the house. His mind drifted attempting to come up with a plan on how to propose to her. He lifted the lid to the underground valve that would turn on water to the house. As he reached inside, he jumped back because a damn snake had curled around the knob. Fuck! Too close. After killing the snake and pulling it out of the hole, he turned on the water. He walked inside, still a little freaked out from his reptile mishap.

  “What happened?”

  “Don’t ever tell me to watch out for snakes again,” he said, shivering.

  She giggled and wrapped her arms around him. “Let’s go to bed. I’m so tired.”

  Tugging her hand, he led her toward the master bedroom. That room had a nice walk-in shower that he and Davey had redone while they were home on break from college one summer. They’d removed the tub and replaced it with the huge walk-in shower. It had been a home improvement project with an ulterior motive and perfect for what he had in mind.

  * * * *

  “Come with me,” Danny said.

  “Where?”

  “Come on.”

  They walked into the huge bathroom, and he started the shower,

  “What are we doing?”

  “We’re taking a shower first. I want to see you naked and wet.”

  She pulled away. “No.”

  “Why?”

  Doubt seized her; getting naked in bed was one thing, taking a shower with him was something else. He was young, in uniform, and a ripped Navy SEAL. Knowing that women flocked to men like him, she guessed he’d had some seriously hot girlfriends. His caresses screamed experience and how much he’d learned about women. The way he slid his hands over her skin made her body hum with just the memory.

  “Come on,” he coaxed as he unfastened her shorts.

  The midnight blackness of his eyes kept her mesmerized as he slid the zipper down. He knelt and kissed her belly as he eased her shorts down her legs. She closed her eyes, gripped his shoulders, and stepped out of her clothes. He stood and lifted her T-shirt over her head. While he mapped her body, she trembled with every pass. He knelt again and looked up at her. The sudden surge of arousal dampened her folds as his passion-glazed look returned. She had to understand why seeing him on his knees with that expression nearly drove her to a climax every time.

  “You’re very beautiful and sexy,” he said as he ran his hands over her legs.

  The erotic trance he’d drawn her into switched to fear and uncertainty.

  “Danny…” She grabbed his wrists.

  “Let me touch you, please. I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”

  Something in his voice made her loosen her grip and allow him to continue. Was he pleading? Wrapping his hands around her thighs, he pulled her closer to him and slid his hands higher, grabbing her ass. He leaned forward and kissed her pussy through her panties. She briefly wished she thought about sexy, lacy things the way other women did. Instead, they were sensible bikini briefs and a plain bra. She cupped his face, distracting him from his intimate exploration. Without breaking eye contact he pulled her panties down and her heart raced as he slid his hands up her legs again. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra, but she held it in place not letting it slip from her shoulders.

  “Let go,” he urged.

  Awkwardness and momentary panic seized her when he stood.

  “I love you and have always thought you were beautiful. Let go.”

  When his gaze softened, she let him sweep the last of her clothing away. He opened the shower door and helped her inside. She let the warm water run over her body as it washed away the tension of this afternoon. He returned with her bath puff and shower gel from her bathroom.

  He stripped quickly, and as he stepped inside the shower with her, she couldn’t help but stare. He was magnificent. His body was hard and sculpted such that she could make out the details and lines of the muscles in his chest, abdomen, and arms. His shoulders were broad, and he was lean with strong legs but lacked the bulkiness that came with being so muscular. He had the body of a swimmer. She touched his abs and let her fingers trace the muscles that rippled just below the surface. He touched her hand as she explored his body,

  “That feels so good,” he said, leaning forward with a kiss. “Turn around, babe.”

  Turning, she stuck her head under the warm falling water. While he ran the bath puff over her back and shoulders, she let herself slip into another world that she’d only dreamt about until now. The last week had been a nightmare with Danny as her light at the end. He’d been the beacon that had kept her steady, and he’d been her strength when she had nothing left. He washed away the stress that still plagued her, making her brand-new. As he pulled her against his chest and ran the puff over her belly and her chest, she released a long moan. He nibbled at her shoulder and spread her feet slightly as he moved the puff over her pussy. She relaxed and let him explore her body.

  Needing more intimate contact, she turned slightly, and he kissed her as he ran his hands over her breasts and teased her nipples. It seemed as if she’d been starving for him, and now he was hers. No matter how short their time together, she’d treasure these moments of intimacy with him for the rest of her life. He moved one of his hands up her back and pushed her forward bending her at the waist.

  “Grab the bar in front of you, babe,” he said.

  Gripping the bar, she moaned as his hands moved over her ass. He adjusted himself to accommodate her height so he could rub his cock against her slit and take her to another dimension. Despite the warm water running over her, she shivered and goose bumps rose over her body. His cock breached her slick cunt in one smooth motion. He stilled and traced his hands over her wet skin as he slowly pulled out. From this position, his cock hit her G-spot perfectly and brought her to the edge quickly.

  “I’ve imagined fucking you like this every time we stayed here. Why didn’t you tell me?” he said in a deep growl as he shoved harder.

  “I—”

  As he fucked her, she lost the ability to form a coherent thought. She tightened her grip on the shower bar as he moved his hands over her slick body and found her breasts. She jerked her hips and rocked backward to meet his deliberate thrusts.

  “Be still, babe. You’ll make me come too fast,” he said, grabbing her hips.

  He stroked his cock in and out of her cunt.

  “Damn, your pussy feels good!” he exclaimed in a strained groan.

  His fingers found her clit, and with a single brush, her nerve endings snapped as he took her over the edge. Rio’s thighs quivered and his fingers dug into her hips as she shook over his cock. She screamed as her body tightened and relaxed in carnal spasms. The wave of pure orgasmic pleasure that swept over her was mind blowing. He caught her around her waist when her knees buckled.

  “I’ve got you,” he said softly.

  As he pulled her up against his chest, she whimpered and let her head fall back against his shoulder. He seemed to understand her unspoken need to recover and held her as she caught her breath. He turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped her inside. The towel he rubbed over her tickled her sensitive body and made her giggle. He smiled at her and kissed her, tossing the towel aside. She melted into the bed as he eased her down and covered her body with his.
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  “Are you tired?” he asked as he nipped her throat.

  “Yes, but I don’t want you to stop.”

  They rubbed noses. No one had ever done that to her, and she tucked it away as Danny’s thing. If for some reason this didn’t last, no man would be allowed to rub noses with her. His kisses were something else she’d never forget. She could read his feelings in them. Sometimes they were urgent and rough with passion, then tender and loving expressing his affection. Whatever his mood, those kisses always rendered her boneless.

  “Tell me your secrets,” he whispered against her lips.

  “I have. It’s time you told me a few of yours,” she said, sliding her arms around his neck.

  Danny chuckled as he kissed her, and she let herself slip into the bliss of his touch.

  “Okay. Here’s one. I want you to tie me up and cause me a little pain,” he said.

  Rio’s eyes flew open and she froze. “W–what?”

  Chuckling seductively, he rubbed her nose with his. “I liked it, and I want you to do it again. This time, make it hurt.”

  Was he kidding, again? She didn’t know how to react to his confession. Could he really be serious? His cock was getting harder by the second against her leg. The sudden recollection of restraining him again and slapping his six-pack abs sent a fresh rush of moisture between her thighs. What the hell was wrong with her?

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

  “Because you just went tense all over. Did I hurt you?”

  “No, I…uh…” she stuttered, fighting for words.

  Frowning, he slid off to lie next to her. She tried to wrap her mind around what he’d said, and it was causing an uncomfortable silence. Finally, he turned to her,

  “Rio, look at me. We need to talk, and it’s long overdue.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “I love you. I know you’re a strong woman, and it’s something I’ve always admired.”

  Doubt seized her again, and her body went slack because she understood her strength could be a double-edged sword. While it was necessary for the job she did and when working with dogs, it could be a real negative in every romantic relationship she’d tried to have. She didn’t need anyone telling her what to do, and she sure as hell wasn’t going along with something just because someone told her to. She had to do enough of that shit with her job.

  “Danny, you don’t know what you’re saying,” she said, averting her gaze.

  “Yes, I do. I understand exactly what I’m saying probably better than you do,” he said as he pulled a blanket over her.

  “No you don’t. I’ve never been able to be who I really am with anyone. You know that.”

  “Exactly, you’ve always been safe with me, so why are you so hesitant? The only way you’ll get rid of me is to tell me to leave.”

  “Danny…” She tightened the blanket protectively around herself.

  “Babe, why are you such a good dog trainer? Why is it so easy for you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  This had to be the most uncomfortable conversation she’d ever had with anyone and being naked—even with the blanket over her—didn’t help. Why did the idea of rendering him helpless and taking control over what happened to him turn her on so much? He cupped her face and redirected her gaze back to him.

  “I do. I know why. It’s because they respond to your dominance. They need it…and so do I.”

  Shooting him a skeptical, almost cynical expression, she shook her head. “No man would ever put up with that. I can’t be myself because, when I am, it scares people.”

  “Scares people or intimidates the men you’ve tried to be with?”

  She squirmed and went silent. What kind of freak was she?

  “Rio, I’m not messing around about this. We need to be able to talk, and sometimes, it’ll be uncomfortable. I have needs that I can’t trust or express with just anyone. I’m trusting one of my best friends with this.”

  Tears of frustration stung her eyes. What the hell did he want from her? This would never work. She knew Danny. He got easily bored, and her personality wasn’t something she could switch on and off with his sudden whims. She needed consistency. She’d give him the stability he implied he needed, but it had to be her way.

  “I can’t turn it off. I can’t be like other women. I know that, so I’ve made the decision that I need to be alone.”

  “Are you telling me this is over?” he asked.

  No! God no! I’ve waited my whole life for you. Her breath caught in her throat, and she looked away again.

  “Did it ever occur to you that maybe you’ve been picking the wrong guys?” he asked, redirecting her gaze at him.

  “What kind of man would put up with a woman like me?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” She looked away. Danny persisted. “I think you’re pretty damn amazing,” he said, taking her hand. “I need a strong woman. Unfortunately, there are more guys like me than there are women like you. And is there something wrong with a woman running things, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jensen?” She smiled despite herself. He gave her a reassuring kiss. “You’re a rare find, babe, and I’m very lucky.”

  “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked.

  “I found out a while back that I’m a submissive man. I need a woman like you. I’ve been blind, babe. What I’ve needed, I’ve had all of my life and was too busy screwing around to see it.”

  “When you say submissive, what do you mean? Because I don’t think you’re very submissive. You’re not weak.”

  “No, I’m definitely not weak. Think about Schotzie. She’s a badass German shepherd. Or that pit bull you were working with. It takes a strong person to earn their respect and devotion. You have to be more dominant than they are.”

  Thinking about his words, she connected them to what she knew—the pack structure. There would always one alpha, the strongest in the group. Most of the time it would be male. But every now and then a female would rise to the top. And Danny was right. The others in the pack submitting to the alpha didn’t mean they were weak, it meant they were next in line. How did that work with humans? She’d been burned by society’s perception of a strong, alpha woman. She’d learned how to navigate around the negative connotation that, because she was strong, it meant she was butch or a dyke. She’d figured out how to temper her strong personality and conform to societal expectations enough to be left alone. There couldn’t be any way this concept of a dominant female could work between a man and woman in a relationship.

  “You’re not a dog,” she said.

  “No, I’m not, but I need you, and I trust you. I’ve never told anyone else what I’m telling you now.”

  “Do you mean you want to do this with just sex?”

  “No. If we make a life together, which is what I want, it’ll go into our decision making. You’ll never be happy with someone telling you what to do. With my career, I need a strong and independent woman to keep things under control. And most of the time, I need someone to tell me what to do because I don’t take it seriously. You seem to know how to do it without pissing me off.”

  Rio was overcome with emotion. He was serious. How many fantasies did she have with him on his knees proposing to her? There were countless hours of daydreams involving them sharing a life together. Now it had become a real possibility, and it was frightening. The last thing in the world she wanted was to drive Danny away.

  “Taking care of a dog and having a relationship are two different things. And I don’t want to make all of our decisions by myself; I need you.”

  “Of course we’re talking. You know how to see through all my bullshit. I need someone who isn’t afraid to make a decision and keep me in line. I need a woman who can be in charge, and you’re the only woman I’ve ever trusted like that.”

  “I don’t know how this is supposed to work. I don’t know how to do what you’re asking of me.”

  What
he wanted from her seized her with uncertainty. As the boss of her unit, her men very rarely questioned her leadership because she’d earned their trust. There was no question she was one of the best K-9 handlers in the CBP. Her skills and experience as a K-9 trainer and handler were why they’d recruited her in the first place. But leading her personal relationship with the man of her dreams would be an entirely different matter. How the hell did that work? She also remembered his comment about mixing up her restraining him with some pain. No matter how hard she tried to picture what that looked like, she couldn’t imagine ever hurting him.

  “Babe, tell me what you’re thinking,” he said, drawing her out of her thoughts with a kiss.

  “I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered with hesitation.

  “Yes you do.”

  “Danny, I can’t do this. I can’t hurt you,” she said.

  Now it was his turn. Uncertainty crossed his dark features. “I don’t know how to explain this, but it doesn’t hurt. It feels good. It’s sort of like a hard workout; you ache, but you know you’ll feel so much better the next day, if that makes sense,” he said with a hopeful gaze.

  “I need to think about what you’re asking. I don’t think I can do it,” she said.

  “I think you can. Trust yourself, and quit smothering who you really are. Let me see Rio again. You teased me with her the other day; come on out and play, Rio,” he taunted her as he rubbed his nose against hers again.

  Feeling lighter with his joke, she giggled and kissed him. An unseen, heavy weight had been lifted as her tendency to hesitate and wait disappeared. When they were growing up, she recalled helping him through almost all of his decision making. Mostly, she remembered calling bullshit on him whenever she saw it. She relaxed and slid her arms around him as he pushed her gently onto her back.

  “I love you,” he whispered as he slid down her body.

  Running his mouth over her chest, his tongue traced a line down to her breasts. Arching her back into his hands, she released a moan as a shock hit her when he flicked his tongue against her nipple. Every time he grazed her sensitive nipples with the slightest touch, it would send a jolt throughout her body straight to her pussy making it cream in anticipation. His mouth worked her breasts slowly and painstakingly.